A/N: Hey guys! Thought I'd post this. It's not long, nor is it great, but I think it's a decent start! I went with showing all three POVs like I usually do for a beginning/ending scene. 

Things had been going rather well up until Jin insulted a member of the Grass Village's Anbu.

In her defense, the shinobi must have had a rather short temper in order to snap so easily. Jin's "insult" had obviously-- at least to Kazue-- held no ill intent. Still, Kazue could only drop her head into her hands as the mossy-eyed pre-teen simply stared blankly at the masked face of a pissed-off grass shinobi. Neji, unlike Kazue, kept his face carefully blank as the other two Anbu shinobi in their company shifted about where they stood. Apparently, they weren't expecting a good result from this stand-off.

Neither was Kazue if she was honest. She could only hope that the village's head elder would show up soon. Otherwise, a blood-bath was eminent. She had yet to drill into Jin's current personality that violence wasn't always the answer. As it was, the girl would strike first, ask questions later if it came down to it.

"I'll give you a chance to change your words," the Anbu growled. "Try again, kunoichi."

Jin cocked her head, then shrugged as if the tension in the air hadn't climbed to a concerning peak. At the same time, she shifted to her feet, leaving her travel bag on the tanned fabric of the seat she'd just been occupying. They'd been settled into a meeting room in Kusagakure's main building for only ten minutes up to this point. Although, Kazue had to admit that was a record time of peace when it came to Jin and pissing people off.

"If I must," she replied. "I said, your presence here is unneeded. If I was planning to assassinate your elder, you would not be able to stop me. Therefore, I see no need for constant surveillance."

Kazue had to wonder how such a socially inept girl knew such big words. Perhaps Makoto had taught Jin to read once upon a time. As it was, the words only seemed to deepen the shinobi's anger. He swept his hand down to the weapons' pouch at his side, fingers curling through the end of a kunai. Kazue went tense the second he flicked it from his pouch, but there was no need.

In a movement almost too quick to be seen, Jin caught his wrist and swept her foot out, sending the ANBU crashing to the wooden floorboards. His partners tensed, as if suppressing laughter behind their animal masks. As for the shinobi, he stayed on the ground for a moment, most likely trying to figure out how he'd ended up there. Kazue's guess? He must not have been expecting that much speed from a young shinobi that lacked even a forehead protector.

"You little b--"

A cough broke into the beginning of the shinobi's retaliation. It would seem that at some point during the incident, the man they'd been waiting for had arrived. Or at least, that's what Kazue guessed from the way the Anbul went tense and the one on the floor scrambled to his feet. Without hesitation, she turned to look towards the suspected elder. Her eyes flew wide at the sight.

"You're... the elder?"

The man-- as he couldn't have been more than a year or two older than Miki-- shrugged in a rather unconcerned manner.

"It's a title," he replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm--"

"Arakida Shuji," Jin interrupted. "Elder of Kusagakure for five months. Former Anbu Black Ops. Certified as a chuunin three years ago. Son of the previous elder. Herald as the foremost reason the elder wasn't killed in an attack driven by one of Kusagakure's more famous clans."

The boy blinked, onyx eyes focusing on Jin. He seemed confused for a moment, then he shrugged in a dismissive manner.

"I wouldn't say I was one of the foremost reasons," he replied simply. "There were many other outstanding shinobi that helped that day, including several Konohagakure shinobi. Now, why are you here?"

Neji chose that moment to step forward. He produced a folded letter from his pocket and held it out for Shuji to take. Without a word, the elder took it and studied the words inside. After a moment he pursed his lips, folded it, and tucked away in his pocket.

"Now, what would you two need to talk to my shinobi for, hm?" he questioned.

Kazue hesitated, then reconsidered as she realized this wasn't really a situation she needed to hold her tongue in.

"We want to talk to them about the Taira."

Surprise colored Shuji's face. Obviously, he recognized the name. He considered the matter silently for a moment before slowly nodding. He gestured towards one of the ANBU (skipping over the still-pissed shinobi) and turned a pleasant expression back towards them.

"Very well. I hope you don't mind, but I will require your having an escort while you're in the village. You'll be escorted to Etsuko and Akito's residence where they'll be given strict instructions to have an eye on you at all times. I hope you understand that it's not anything against you, I simply cannot have foreign shinobi wandering around unattended. If you do slip your watch, you'll be requested to leave the village. Understood?"

His tone implied that "requested" was the most polite word he could have used in place of "forced." Still, Kazue simply nodded her agreement. It was a reasonable request in times like these. That matter settled, Shuji nodded to the ANBU who started out of the room without another word. Jin trailed after him and after the two of them wished the elder a final farewell, they followed suit.

Kazue's eyes settled on Jin as they walked. The girl seemed completely calm, as if she hadn't just attacked a grass shinobi. Despite having traveled together with her for a week, Kazue couldn't say she understood Jin anymore than she had when she'd escaped Orochimaru's hideout so long ago. She could still picture it perfectly-- the moment they ran into the girl.

"What are you doing here?"

Jin cocked her head, as if musing over the question. Beside Kazue, Neji went tense. She shook her head and pursed her lips when the action only earned her a questioning look from him.

"That's... Jin. Jun's sister."

Neji's eyes widened.

"His sister?"

Kazue hesitated, then nodded.

"Yes. She... lives elsewhere."

That much seemed to draw Jin into the conversation. She shook her head, casting away any stray thoughts and stepping towards the duo.

"Makoto sent me here," she said, voice void of any emotion. "He said it was for the best."

Kazue frowned. Makoto let Jin leave? That didn't make sense. As loyal as he was to Jin, he was even more devoted to Orochimaru. Actually, if she thought about it, Kazue wasn't all that certain about her assessment of that matter. After all, Makoto had never made his allegiances clear one way or another. She'd always seen him as Jin's protector and guardian, if she was being honest.

"What do you mean?"

"Orochimaru-sama is dead."

"Kazue."

Neji's even voice startled Kazue from her thoughts. She blinked a few times, focusing on the present as their small group came to a stop before a small, blue apartment.

"We've arrived?" she questioned.

The Anbu nodded and after taking a deep breath, Kazue stepped forward to knock on the door.

It was time to save Jun.

____________________________________

"What? You still haven't left? How lame."

It was as if she could feel her heart shredding.

It was funny, until now, she hadn't realized how attached to the boy she'd really become. Sure, she'd begun to realize that perhaps there was a bit more than friendship stored in her bond to him- yet she hadn't given it much credit. Not only that, but she'd thought that Kurai's words had torn such feelings from her- that perhaps she'd managed to bar herself from it until things could be fixed.

Tenten couldn't have been more wrong.

As she struggled to pull in a breath, the boy sighed, rocking back on his heels in a dramatic manner.

"I get tired of this, you know," he drawled as he hooked his hands behind his head. "Having to say the same things, over and over. It's not like things are suddenly going to change, you know."

She pursed her lips.

"I'm aware."

Kurai rose a brow, leaning towards her. His feet didn't shift, but that single movement made it feel as if he'd suddenly taken the steps to move closer. How was it that such a little action could change everything?

"Oh?"

"... yes."

"Then leave," he instructed. "It feels strange looking at you."

An unidentifiable feeling fluttered through her. Unable to help herself, she crossed the distance, aware of how it would set the figures watching them from outside the door on edge. After the events of the last time she visited, she doubted they'd be taking their eyes off of him during her visit.

"Why would it feel strange?" she questioned. "Doesn't it annoy you when I'm here? How would that be strange?"

He scowled, taking a step backwards. She simply blinked in response. Confusion flooded her mind, accompanied by a bit of an emotion she should have stayed as far away from as possible.

"Perhaps..." Tenten began.

The scowl deepened and he suddenly grabbed her shoulder, shoving her against the nearby wall. A sharp yelp escaped her lips, but she shook her head when the guards at the door began to open it. After all, Kurai was now simply staring at her, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Gone."

"... I'm sorry?"

"It's gone. Everything you're looking for is gone. Even I can't feel it anymore- don't get any funny ideas in your head. And...don't come around here again. If you do..." he muttered. There was a dark, promising edge to his tone that sent a shiver down her spine. "I'll show you just why they're so scared."

His hand, which had steadily gripped Tenten's shoulder tighter and tighter as he spoke, suddenly dropped away.

"Get out of here. I'm done."

She stared at him for a moment, tempted to argue. When she felt unreasonable wetness beginning to form in the corner of her eyes- however- at the sudden hope ripped away, she pushed past him to start for the door. She could feel his eyes on her back, something that seemed to tear even more into her than any of the words he'd said.

Just as she'd almost reached the door, his hand suddenly grasped her hand.

"Tenten--"

She stiffened, eyes flicking back to see an expression that froze her in place. His face was panicked, a stark difference to the irritation that had been displayed only seconds ago. In that same moment, however, the expression had dropped away in place of confusion. His hand fell to his side, brow knitting.

"Jun..."

The whispered word seemed to catch the boy's attention, awareness flooding his face. He suddenly turned his back to her, the entire room almost shifting with that single movement.

"Get out."

"I--"

"Get out!"

She could only stare at his back, that single, unapproachable feeling sparking once more.

That expression...

Was it even possible?

If it was... what could she do to see it again?

_______________________

"You can't just leave!"

"Watch me. If you old geezers won't give me permission, I'll leave without it," she snapped. "I don't give a shit what you're thinking. I'm leaving."

"Miki--"

"Shut up. Just, shut up. The only person who has a right to say anything to me right now-- besides 'you can go'-- is Kakashi, and he's not here. So, shut up and sign a damn paper."

"If you walk out those doors, you'll be considered a deserter."

"So be it."

"Restrain h--"

Miki sat up, chest heaving. Panic swept through her system despite her having already thrown off the dream. Great. They were even in her nightmares, now. Like she needed a new set of nightmares.

Well, it wasn't as if she needed to be sleeping anyways. The only thing Miki needed to be doing was searching for him. That in mind, she grabbed her things and-- using the slowly growing light of dawn-- located the tracks she'd noticed the previous evening. If she was right, the trail had taken her to a point where she was only a short distance from the edge of the Land of Fire. Unsurprising, all things considered.

Still, it hurt.

If she kept walking, there would be no going back. The life she'd built would be gone.

It was her child, however.

At least one of them deserved to escape this nightmare.